During the April 4 board of trustees meeting, David Pate, assistant superintendent of finance and support services, presented the expected increases, which fall under three categories: insurance, instruction and operation.
What you need to know
According to the presentation, the district is expecting to see more than $6 million in operating cost increases in the fiscal year 2024-25 budget. They include:
- Worker’s compensation and property insurance increases of $1.4 million
- Special education staff increases of $1.2 million
- State-mandated campus security officer hires of $2.2 million
- Utility cost increases of $450,000
- Costs of operating child learning academies, which offer child care services to staff, totaling $800,000
The context
In its FY 2024-25 budget, RISD is expecting about a $16 million shortfall. Initially, the district was expecting that shortfall to be around $28 million but has updated that outlook after efforts, such as consolidating four elementary school campuses and making staffing changes, were approved by the board in recent months.
The district's $407.7 million FY 2023-24 budget included a nearly $15 million deficit. The FY 2024-25 budget is expected to be the fifth consecutive deficit budget adopted by the board.
After multiple budget workshops in April and May, RISD plans to conduct a public hearing and adopt its FY 2024-25 budget June 6, according to the presentation.
